A murder case against two accused from Modimong village, near Taung will resume at the North West High Court in Mahikeng on Wednesday. The case was transferred to the North West High Court by Taung Regional Court.
Rebaone Malekanyo (33) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (32) were nabbed for allegedly killing the former Vaaltar FM presenter and a socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) back in 2021. They were allegedly charged with premeditated murder, assault, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame, Seelo was allegedly killed on 31 October 2021, while walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend.
The deceased allegedly saw the duo stealing roof sheets from a certain house and blew the whistle. Then the accused allegedly assaulted, kidnapped, and killed him before dumping his body in a furrow near Khibitswane village near Taung.
Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. The deceased’s lifeless body was found floating on 3 November 2021. It is alleged that his body was also mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing.
The two accused were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West allegedly appointed a Provincial Task Team a few months ago to investigate the case from scratch after a ‘shoddy’ done by the previous investigation team.
A 38-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for the murder of his stepson. According to the North West police, the atrocity took place at Tlapeng village, near Madibogo.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said, Saame Magogone was nabbed on Saturday by a team consisting of Madibogo Visible Policing members and Detectives.
“It is alleged that the child’s mother left him under the care of her husband, Magogone whilst at work. On her arrival at home on the same day at about 18:10, she found her son laying unresponsive on the bed with multiple injuries on his body.
“The Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) were summoned to the scene and declared the two-year-old boy dead on the scene. The stepfather fled from the scene. Magogone was arrested on 15 February 2023 at Tlapeng Village in Madibogo,” she said.
Botma further said Mogogane appeared in the Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing a charge of murder. She added that the accused was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 22 February 2023.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena expressed his shock to learn of the cruel murder of such a young child.
Kwena said: “My child should also be your child. So, I urge community members to protect the innocent and speak out on behalf of those who can’t speak out for themselves.”
The merging of health services has a huge impact on service delivery, says the chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, Gavin Edwards. This startling revelation was discovered during the oversight week, which the legislature conducted in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
Edwards said, this was part of strengthening oversight and public participation and promoting accountability and transparency in government. He further said, the merging of health services contributes to long waiting patient response time, and exhaustion of facility staff and could see tax payer’s monies being wasted on huge litigation costs charged against the North West Department of Health for this conduct.
“We have resolved on calling a meeting with the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha to respond to the disintegration of health services provided at Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District. We visited Community Health Centres in Itsoseng and Delareyville, where health professionals were combined to work together after hospitals were decommissioned in 2014 by the department.
“We have also noted with concern the challenge of merging health services in one health facility, whilst there is a gazette that stipulates how each facility (hospital and CHC) should be servicing according to the different prescripts of the gazette,” he said.
Edwards added that, amongst other issues raised, the system is very slow. He said this causes delays for patients for hours.
“All patients come straight to the CHC, whether it’s casualty/minor or emergency services. So, the hospital treats both emergency and casualty patients at the same time, which causes confusion at the centre.
“Also, there is only one ambulance that caters for the whole of Ditsobotla Local Municipality. It takes six to seven hours to get an ambulance, worse when there is load shedding. There are only four beds at casualty, and no x-rays, theatre and emergency room,” said Edwards.
He said water scarcity is another major problem at Itsoseng Healthcare centre. According to Edwards, health professionals can take up to two weeks operating without water.
“Patients’ files get lost due to the Health Patient Registration System (HPRS) system that does not work. A suggestion to open more rehabilitation centres was proposed to curb the issue of drug and substance abuse, which is a major problem at the health centre.
“The committee will communicate further details of the next meeting to hear the MEC’s response on challenges found at community health centres,” said Edwards.
Dr Semakaleng Theko, who works at the Itsoseng CHC expressed his frustrations before the committee stating that after Thusong Hospital was closed, the department informed them to work at Itsoseng CHC because Thusong was not safe.
“After we were informed to move and join the CHC, it is difficult for us to integrate our duties according to what is prescribed in the gazette. We are unable to perform major surgeries as the CHC does not have the licence to perform such.
“All patients had to come to this side when Thusong Hospital was closed and mostly, complained and demand Thusong Hospital back due to unreasonable delays.”
Meanwhile, some residents threatened to go to ConCourt to stop the demolition of Thusong Hospital. The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said the hospital was built on dolomitic land and that put the lives of the patients at risk.
“We are aware of this group of people who are against the closure and the demolition of the hospital. They claim to have proof that, there is no dolomite.
“However, as the department, we have proof that the soil is dolomitic. We also have records of having maintained the building, yet the building keeps cracking,” he said.
Lekgethwane said, that is the reason why the department has deemed it necessary to seize any further developments in the building. He added that, the Itsoseng Community Health Centre (CHC) has the capacity to treat patients that were serviced by Thusong Hospital.
“The services both at Itsoseng CHC and General Deleray Hospital, which is in Lichtenburg, are now being expanded. The General Deleray Hospital can accommodate the services, which were rendered at Thusong hospital.
“If there are any challenges, those challenges have always been there even when Thusong Hospital was still operational. However, the department continues to deal with those challenges by ensuring the expansion of the hospital services to cover all the communities of Ditsobotla,” said Lekgethwane.
The failure of the solar system is suspected to be the cause of a fire that erupted at the reception of Batlhaping High School on Monday morning. According to an eyewitness, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal, the fire gutted some important documents at the reception.
“We just saw a cloud of toxic smoke coming out of the reception. So, we suspect that a short circuit at the server room might have triggered the blaze. Only documents were gutted by fire as we managed to extinguish it,”
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The issue of fire at Batlhaping comes from the strong room. We suspect that this fire was caused by failure of a solar system during load-shedding.
“The fire broke out from the AA office and no one was injured. Only files that were in the strong room got damaged.”
Picture: Break-in at Tontonyane High School in Madipelesa village, near Taung/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The residents of Madipelesa village, near Taung, said they were shocked by a burglary at Tontonyane High School on Saturday morning. It is alleged that criminals broke into the school and stole some items.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “We can confirm that a burglary case was opened at the school at Kgomotso Police Station.
“It is alleged that a teacher who was presenting extra classes, entered the school premises on Saturday morning at around 8:45am and found the gate lock and the lock on the main door of the administration block broken.”
Myburgh said the microwave oven was stolen during the burglary. She added that the investigations in the matter continue and no arrest has been made.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi did not respond to our media inquiry sent to him through e-mail and WhatsApp. Also, Malindi’s phone rang unanswered and never returned our calls.
The Forum for Service Delivery (F4SD) president, Mbahare Kekana calls on the disgraced North West Premier, Bushy Maape to resign within 48 hours. This comes after Maape painted a ‘rosy’ picture of the North West roads during the State of the Nation Address (SOPA) debate in parliament last week.
Maape allegedly told everyone who cared on national television that he travels around the North West province roads without hitting any potholes. However, Kekana said Maape is ‘out of touch’ and he ‘needs to come back to reality.’
“As F4SD, we are disappointed about the lies of Maape. He is not a leader and he wanted to trend on lies to become a celebrity. People of the North West are living in dire situations without proper roads.
“We saw a Premier who lies and does not take the people of the North West very seriously. So, we are saying, Maape must resign within 48 hours. He must go because we cannot have a Premier who behaves like this,” he said.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secretary in North West, Papiki Babuile said Maape’s comments were senseless and reckless.
Babuile said: “We have noted with disgust the empty rhetoric by the pathological liar, Maape during both the SONA build-up and the debate thereof. On 9 February 2023, in response to the question on the limping service delivery in the North West, Maape created an impression that the province is alive with possibilities.
“He prefaced his argument with the notion that road infrastructures are conducive for motorists, despite the deadly roads, high levels of crime and substantively collapsed of the Naledi Local Municipality in Dr Ruth Segomotsi
Mompati District, where he comes from.”
Babuile said not so long ago, in 2022, to mention one amongst others, the province witnessed a tragedy of 19 family members as they perished in a horrific crash on the road from Bloemhof to Schweizer Reneke. According to Babuile, Maape further argued that the Ditsobotla Local Municipality is registering some progress following the dissolution and by-elections, however, three months on, the residents are still faced with the water crisis, poverty and
unemployment.
“To date, Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg, where Maape comes from, and communities across the province are without water and the
frustrations manifested through service delivery protests.
“On 15 February 2023, Maape argued that the people in Vryburg were enjoying a better life. His testimony bears evidence to the fact that a better life is exclusively enjoyed by his close political associates, family and friends,” said Babuile.
He added, as the EFF, will hold Maape accountable for his lies and inhumane sentiments.
Meanwhile, the Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West and Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus Leader, Freedy Sonakile said: “The truth is that North West roads are a death trap. The provincial road network is approximately 19 783 kilometres in length, while only 5 419 kilometres are paved (tarred roads) and 14 197 kilometres unpaved (gravel roads).
“It is a terrible situation when only a quarter of the road network is paved, yet it carries over 80% of provincial traffic. Last year, during the Premier’s budget speech, we warned Maape that he is out of touch with the lived realities of North West residents.”
Arson case against seven accused from Manthe village, near Taung will resume today at Taung Magistrate’s Court. The former soccer star, Odiseng “Teenage” Komane (41), Obakeng “Prosto” Mogabale (46), Mothusi Motimeng, Pretty “Zero” Masibelele (36), Ali Sakiele (50), Ontiretse Patrick Gosenyegang (38) and the former Mega Stars FC goalie, Katlego “Makgasa” Tikane (32) who are out on R500 bail each, were nabbed by the police during an intelligence-driven operation in July 2022.
In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest and torched three houses and a vehicle including looting alcohol from Disoufeng tavern. They accused the alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (34) of murder.
Bakang, his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong (34), Thabang Lenyai (23), and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (31) allegedly brutally killed Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.
The police preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Lenganeng village near Taung, and Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched and transported him to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.
North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that the police have arrested seven suspects for arson and they were granted R500 bail each. They are expected to appear in court and investigations into the matter continue.”
Meanwhile, the accused had to acquire a new lawyer, advocate Thabo Letsapa after the arrest and sentencing of their previous lawyer, advocate Tebogo Letloleleng.
Letloleng was arrested for stock theft and sentenced to 20 months in prison. He also has other pending cases in Gauteng.
The Taung Gospel Annual Festival (TGAF) organiser, Tshidi Moreane said, even though some detractors ripped down his billboard for the upcoming event on 1 April 2023, he will never be deterred. Moreane woke up to shocking news on Saturday after some unknown men tore his billboard that was along N18 road next to Taung circle.
“Indeed, it is very painful, but to tell the truth, nothing will deter us. We are focused and ready to give our people the greatest event ever. That billboard has cost us around R13000, but I just want to tell Taung Gospel Annual Festival followers not to be demoralised by this act of jealousy and criminality.
“We promise to give them nothing, but only the best. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all those who continue to buy tickets. I also want to encourage those who have not bought their tickets to visit Shoprite Checkers and Computicket to purchase theirs,” he said.
According a local philanthropist, the security guard allegedly saw three men last night tearing the billboard down. He further said, the security guard alleged that he could only identify two of those perpetrators.
“Hopefully, we will catch them soon and necessary steps will be taken. Remember, the event will take place at PH Mooketsi High School in Taung on 1 April 2023.
“Many revellers said they cannot wait for the much-anticipated event. When we take a quick glance at our ticket packages, we have the General tickets at R250 and our VIP ticket costs R450, while our VVIP ticket is available at R1000,” Moreane said.
He added that the gates will open at 2pm until late. Moreane said he has pulled all stops to ensure that the event becomes a success.
“It is all systems go for us and this edition will be mouth-watering. Our main objective of this event is to deal with spiritual revival. As a Christian, I believe that spiritual revival in human life is essential, so this is exactly what this event aims for.
“We also have moral degeneration within our society that needs to be addressed. But, through this event, we can deal with that, if we all pull in the same direction,” he said.
Moreane has roped in Gospel heavyweight artists in the line-up such as Dumi Mkokstad, Dr Winnie Mashaba, Busy Radebe, Keke Sechaba, Teboho Moloi, Manana Ramongae and the list is endless.
“I think this is more than an event, but a revival meeting. The event aims to inspire or re-awaken the spiritual vigor within ourselves. Historically, revival events like this have only been held for Christian communities and churches, but this one is open for non-believers too.
“The main purpose is to revitalise the spiritual life of our people and boost the economy. We will be bringing our people under one roof to rejoice and seek a renewed spiritual exuberance. So, through this event people will sense the power of God,” said Moreane.
The North West University (NWU) academic in the African Centre for Disaster Studies, Prof Livhuwani Nemakonde said the heavy rainfall experienced in South Africa in recent weeks is due to a combination of factors.
“Climatologists have indicated that this is because of the La Niña phenomenon. La Niña (Spanish for a little girl) is the opposite of an El Niño (little boy), which usually predicts low rainfall for South Africa.
“In simple terms, this means that most parts of the country will receive above average summer rainfall, and it is for this reason that seven of the nine provinces received huge amounts of rainfall that led to flooding,” Nemakonde said.
He further said, the impact of the floods is quite high, particularly in parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Nemakonde added that the weather forecasts warn that the trend might continue into the last week of February and that South Africa is likely to receive more rain into autumn.
“Obviously, the amount of rainfall plays a major role, but other human-related factors such as residing in low-lying areas, flood plains, riverbanks, and poor infrastructure contribute to the impact of floods.
“With seven of the nine provinces affected by the floods that resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure, the government declared a national state of disaster on 13 February 2023,” he said.
According to Prof Nemakonde, government officials argued that the declaration of a state of disaster will help with expediting the availability of resources to those most affected.
He said, once the national state of disaster is declared, they expect the government to immediately make resources available to assist those affected. Nemakonde said, however, the handling of the recent KZN floods paints a different picture, as those affected had to wait long for assistance.
“I argue that the delays might be even worse this time, seeing that the government is currently dealing with two states of disasters – one for the electricity crisis and the other for the floods. One wonders where the government will find the means, especially financial resources, to address these disasters.
“The private sector and civil society should join the government in this regard to assist those affected by the floods,” he said.
Picture: The missing Motshipa John Mapoane/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
Police in the North West are looking for Motshipa John Mapoane who resides at Molema Section in Mmukubyane village, near Makapanstad. According to the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, Mapoane (71) was allegedly last seen by his daughter on 8 February 2023.
“Mapoane was last seen on 8 February 2023 at around 8:45am, when he went to look for cattle in nearby bushes. However, Mapoane never returned home and an extensive search was conducted around the neighbourhood, as well as villages without any success.
“During his disappearance, Mapoane was wearing blue trousers, a white shirt, a blue overall jacket, a pair of black boots, and a black cap. He was carrying a wooden stick and is dark in complexion, tall in length, and skinny with a bald head,” she said.
Myburgh further said, Mapoane is using chronic medication for epilepsy and high blood pressure. She added that anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Warrant Officer Martin Seleke of Bedwang Detectives at 082 373 9548 or the nearest police station.
Myburgh said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via MySAPS App on your smartphone or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
The Guardian 